(On whether the goal is to have a unified playing style between the Academy and the first team....)

KIROVSKI: “We want our teams to play the same way in an attacking style. We’re the Galaxy and we want to play attractive and attacking soccer. That’s what we try to do across the whole club. We want to entertain, but we also want to win. We want to win championships in the first team, we want to win at the Academy level in doing that, we want to play our way which is attractive and attacking soccer with flair and entertainment because that’s what we are.”

(On what the Academy learned from participating in Dallas Cup…)

KIROVSKI: “For me it was seeing the standard of play in Europe and across the world. We had a good showing, but I know that we’re still a little bit behind. In that group, we have a few very good players like Drew Murphy, Nathan Smith, Raul Mendiola, Paul Arriola, who are very good, but as a group we’re still a little bit behind those teams like Fulham, the Brazilian teams and others. We’re close, but we’re still behind and that’s our job to try and be at that level.”

(On how to bridge the gap between those teams…)

KIROVSKI: “They’ve been around longer, they’re in a soccer environment, the kids watch soccer all the time, but we’re creating that more and more. When I played, club soccer teams trained twice a week now we have a program where we have our kids training four times a week and playing on the weekends. We’re playing all the time and have a structure and philosophy that says how we want to play. We’re getting better and better. It’s getting there and it takes times, but if you look at some of the players that have come through in our first team, it’s unbelievable. We’re going to get bigger and better and have more players coming through.”

(On building a professional environment while going up against Residency programs…)

KIROVSKI: “The way we set up our sessions, the way that we train every day. These people have residency, but our kids live nearby it’s better for them. They get to be with their families and they get professional coaching at a high level and they get that environment here. For me, it’s better for our kids to be home in Southern California and get that. I believe that we’re better than the U.S. Soccer residency program for sure.”

With their 4-1 victory over Real Madrid on Wednesday, Borussia Dortmund appear to have one foot firmly planted in the UEFA Champions League Final.

The Germans victory is a special one for LA Galaxy Technical Director Jovan Kirovski, who was on the books at Dortmund during their last victory in the Champions League. Kirovski became the first American to ever win the Champions League when Dortmund knocked off Italian giants Juventus to win the 1996/1997 UEFA Champions League title. To date, Kirovski remains the only American to ever win the Champions League and subsequently the only American to win the Intercontinental Cup, which was the predecessor of the World Club Championship.

Kirovski admits to pulling for his former club despite being close friends with Madrid assistant coach Aitor Karanka, who was Kirovski's teammate in 2006 with the Colorado Rapids. Now more than a decade removed from Dortmund's last Champions League triumph, Kirovski looks back on his distinction as the first American to lift the European Cup.

“Back then, I didn’t even think about it, but now when I do, it’s special. I was part of a team that was full world superstars and to be a part of that was special," Kirovski told LA Galaxy Insider. "Not many people get an opportunity to do that not only with the Champions League, but the World Club Championship and to be a part of something like that as an American, not many get that opportunity and it’s a great experience.”

Following practice on Tuesday, McBean touched on a number of topics including his status with the U.S. Under-20’s, how his life is different than other teenagers his age and the rise of Philadelphia Union forward Jack McInerney.

McBean’s comments are below…

(On his status with the Under-20’s after not being called up to the April training camp…)

MCBEAN: “Not really worrying about it, I’m just focusing on the Galaxy and my role with the team right now. I know that if I do well with this team then it’s up to [U.S. Under-20 head coach] Tab [Ramos]. He’s called me in before and there’s a bunch of good players.”

(On how his life is different than other teenagers…)

MCBEAN: “I had to grow up a lot, but it’s easier to go back home. I’m still living at home and seeing all my best friends every day. My life is different than most people, but at the same time, I’m still doing most normal things that high school kids do.”

CARSON, Calif. -- LA Galaxy head coach Bruce Arena spoke to reporters following Tuesday's training session about a number of topics including the rise of Jack McBean, who has started the club's last four league matches.

Arena's comments are below...

(On Carlo Cudicini, Landon Donovan and Todd Dunivant getting the day off from training…)

ARENA: “Yeah, they’re in the gym today.”

(On whether the team is finally getting healthy…)

ARENA: “You’re never completely healthy during the season, but we’re making some progress, but not all the way there.”

(On whether there were any areas that he has to work on or is it simply everything?)

ARENA: “Everything, he’s 18-years-old so I don’t think that he’s mastered the game yet, but if he keeps working hard then he’ll get better.”

(On his continued growth…)

ARENA: Everything is a little bit better; they should have a natural growth in their game at this age. They should be getting incrementally better every year. He has shown that since he first came in here three years ago so he’s getting a little bit better every year.”

(On how much McBean learns from playing with Robbie Keane…)

ARENA: “A lot. It’s also getting used to the tendencies that Robbie has as a player. He’s much more aware of how Robbie plays now then he was even in preseason so that’s all part of the growth pattern from a player like Jack.”

CARSON, Calif. – A nagging sports hernia injury sidelined LA Galaxy goalkeeper Brian Perk, but now fully recovered, the backup goalkeeper is hungry to get back on the training field.

The Galaxy backup ‘keeper has been sidelined since March 16 after undergoing sports hernia surgery, which allowed LA’s third goalkeeper Brian Rowe to slide into the second spot behind starting ‘keeper Carlo Cudicini. His recovery finally completed, Perk returned to training this week.

“I feel really excited to get back as opposed to when you’ve been training for two months; you take it a little for granted. When you’ve been out for a month and some change, it’s really exciting,” Perk told LA Galaxy Insider. “It’s good to be back with all the guys, I missed them for a good two weeks. It’s not normal and it feels good to get back with everyone.”

First things first, however, as Perk understands that he must impress in training to win back his role as LA’s first choice backup.

“You always have to earn it back,” said Perk. “Brian Rowe obviously looks really good and is playing well as of late. I have to come in and work hard because nothing is given to you and I know that.”

Head coach Bruce Arena, who kept an eagle eye on Perk during his recuperation from surgery, has been impressed thus far.

“He looks good. He looks like he is fully recovered,” Arena said. “He’s done a good job of rehabilitating from surgery and he’s ready to go.”

The 23-year-old will look to make his first appearance since the preseason on Sunday when the Galaxy take on Real Salt Lake in Reserve League play. The match would be Perk’s first appearance since the Galaxy’s 6-2 preseason victory over Club Tijuana on February 19.

“We haven’t talked about it yet [with the coaching staff], we’ll see how the end of the week goes, but I’m going to be pushing for minutes, but those things are up to Bruce so we’ll see,” said Perk.

If he does see time in that reserve fixture, it’d be a major boost to Perk’s continued recovery.

“It’d be great, especially so quickly after I got healthy. To get however minutes would be great,” Perk said. “It’d help get the motions back and since we have a lot of games coming up. I’ll do anything to do what I can to get on the field when Bruce sees fit.”

Major League Soccer added an assist for Marcelo Sarvas for his role in creating Landon Donovan's goal in the 74th minute of the LA Galaxy's 2-0 victory over Sporting Kansas City last Saturday.

The assist is the Brazilian midfielder's second of 2013 and fourth since joining the Galaxy at the start of the 2012 season. The ruling by MLS means that both Donovan and Sarvas finished the game with a goal and an assist.